Heartless

Heartless is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 790L across 294 pages (approximately 61,487 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Heartless works for readers up to grade 7.1.

Read aloud, Heartless runs about 6.8 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Heartless as 10IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety, Bullying, Emotional: Loss & Grief, Physical/Safety: Physical Danger, Social: Secrets.

Thematically, Heartless explores friendship, mystery, high school, secrets, and suspense — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.